Island



NATHAN MATHEWSN, OF BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND. p

Lease-s Patent No. 77,034, flared May 186e.

IMPROVLltlliNT IN MOWING-MAGHINES.

elle tlpmrle referer tu it tlgtsc Enters ijrtcut mit matting nrt of tige same TO WHOM.' IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, NATHAN F. MATHEWSON, df Barrington, Bristol county, Rhode Island, have invented I 4new and useful Improvements in Blowing-Machines; and I do -hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to'the drawings that accompany and form a part of these specifications, in Which- Figure 1 is a view of the machine in perspective. Figure 2, sectional view on-line a b, shown in lig. 1. Figure 3, sectional View cut on the line-c-cZ. Figure 4, transverse section of a portion of that shown in iig. 3, Figure 5, sectional elevation on a line with the cutter-bar and the axle of the principal driving-wheel. Figure 6, sectional elevation on a line with the gear-shaft and seat-standard. v Letter A, the platform to which 'the various other parts are attached, in manner shown in the various figures 0f the drawings.

Letter B, principal driving-wheel placed on the left side of thc machine,and on a line with the cutter-bar.

Letter C, another wheel placed in the rear of the cutter-bar, as may be seen in fig. 1. This'may also be used as an auxiliary driving-wheel.

Letter D, driving-shaft, with small gear-wheels in each end, through which it is made to rotate by the Agears on the wheels B and C, one or both.

Letters EE, small gears, loose on the shaft D, and actuated by thegear of the driving-wheels. l `Letter F, bevel-gear wheel onthe driving-shaft D, and located as represented in iig. 2.-

Letter g, a short shaft, hung transversely to the shaft D, and has on one end the small gear L, which i meshes into the gear-wheel F. On the other end it has the crank-wheel z'.

' Letter J, a firm rod, which attaches to thewheelz', and to the inner end of the' cutter late, and propels the'latter. i

Letter K, a double bar or frame, in the ferm of the letter X, with hinges at the four extremities. To Vthe two lower ones the cutter-,bar is attached, asshcwn' in iig. 1; the other `two are attached to the platform.

Letter M, a shoe on the inner end of the eutter-har. y Letter N, a curved elongation of the shoe m. Letter-O, a strap of iron formed somewhat vinl the form of the letter V, and attached to the platform, as shown in fig. 1. This strap 0 a'cts as a support to the cutter-har, in connection with the elongation of the shoe 1n., the said elongationhaving its upper end turned around the larger standard of the strap o.

Letter P, a double Wedge-key, with its upper and lower ends fitted to pass through slots in the straps 'r r,

and its central portion fashioned sous to forni one-half of the journal-Box for the pin q.

Letter S, bolt by which the ends of r1 may he brought nearer together. This will force the bevelled-key parts of P further through the slots in the straps?` r, carrying the whole of P towardsthe pin q', and thus taking up the wear'at this point. v

Letters u u, chucks on the shaft D,'and connected vwith the Wheels E E.

Letters v v, pins or steps on the shaft D, to receive the shoulder of the wheels E E.

Letters w w, rods leading from the cam-wheels fr to the chucks u..

Letters y y, gauges or stops tothe wheels l Letters z s, rods leading from the Wheels :n uppthrough the platform A, to Within easy reach of 'the driver on his seat.

Letter a, drivers seat.

Letter 6, springs to `support the seat.

Letter c, tubular post or standard.

Letter d, counterpart to c, with threads, (see iig. 6.)

1, ratchet-wheel, by which the cutter-bar is raised or lowered.

2, lever for operating the ratchet-wheel.

3, spring-pawl.

l4, Wedge or cam for relieving the pawl.v

5, pedal by which the pawl is operated.

5, Spring-strap below the platform, to which are attached the ,lower end of the pedal 5, and also the` lower end of the wedge 4.

7, chain connecting thecutter-bar with the wheel 1.

8, a foot-board or dasher.'4 Immediately in the rear of this is a cover, opening into a tool-box.

9, a small portion of the platform A raised on hinges, giving convenient access to the parts below for oiling.

Having, us I think, suiliciently described the various parts that relate to `rhy invention, I will giv`e slome explanation of the manner of working.

Fig- 1 Shows the machine ready for the grass, 'only the cutter-har requires to drop lower to cut the grass :losel To do this the operator puts his foot to the pedal, which, on being depressed, carries down the spring 6, which in its turn depresscs tho wedge or cam 4, which, by carrying back the pawl 3, relieves the ratchet-wheel l, and thecutter-bar falls to the position required.

l It'may be remarked here that the frame 7s is made of wide strap-iron, and so formed as to slide readily over stones or other obstructions, and also affords complete protection tothe driving-rod J.

To connect the gear E on the driving-shaft D so as to make the cutter-bar vibrate, thc operator puts his hand to rod z, on the left of the seat, and depresses it, thus actuating the wheel x, the rod w, and the chuck u, which moves the wheels E E, so as to bring the shoulder thereof in contact with the pin V. This provides for rotating the shaft D, and its motion being'transmitted till-ouglrthe short shaftg, to the connecting-rod J thereby, throws the cutters in vibration.

-This throws the work of driving the cutters entirely on the wheel B. There is a purpose in this arrangement, viz, to counteract the side-draught, as'it is called, produced by the position ofthe cutter-bar, necessarily fait` out to the right of the line of draught. Throwing the wheel B some distance, in the opposite direction, that is, to the left, thisside pressur-efso wearisome to the horses, is almost entirely avoided. 4

I arrange the wheel B, the crank-wheel z', the driving-rod J, and the frame 7s, all on one and the same vertical plane, which obviatesmuch of the jar and tremulous motion felt in machines new in use.

The other wheel, C, being` connected with the shaft Dfby the same device as l13, may be mndeto assist in driving the cutter-bar.

The screw-in the seat-post renders it adjustable as to height, to suit any person, so that they can conveniently operuteatherods z zand the pedals 5. I do not, however, confine myself to the use of a screw7 as a rack and pawl, l'orfothcr equally effectual device, may be substituted. i

My` improvements relate principally to the following particulars, viz

First, method-rofdropping the cutter-bar. m Second, hr'rafnging the cntter-b'hr on or near a line vertical with aline running through the axle of the Wheel B. ,4 i y Third, form 'and hrrangemnt'of the frame k, to which the cutter-bar is hung.

Fourth,manner of shipping and unshipping the gear on the shaft D.

Fifth, strengthening and supporting the cutter-bar by means of the elongation of the shoe m and the useof the strap '0. j

Sixth, taking up or providingfor the wear on the journals connected with the driving-rodJ. Seventh, providing an adjustable seat. What I claim as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v 1. The spring-pawl when combined and arranged with the pedal 5, the spring-strap 6, the wedge-key 4, and ratchet-wheel 1, substantially as described und for the purposes specified'.

2. The curved elongation of tho shoe m, in combination with the strap o, for the purposes specified. 3. The rods z z, when used in connection with the wheel rv, the rods W, the chucks u, and the gears E, for the purposes specified. A

4. The double wedge-key P, when performing the double oflice of journal-box and key. NATHAN F. MATl-IEWSON.

s Witnesses:

HARVEY MAXFIELD, NEWTON C. DAN/i. 

